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Vallejo amends Navigation Center agreement to add temporary warming center; council approves funding allocation
Summary
The council unanimously approved a First Amendment to the Vallejo Navigation Center operator agreement to add a 70‑day warming center run by 5 Keys with an estimated operating budget of $40,102 drawn from a participatory budget allocation; speakers urged clarity on activation criteria and transportation.
The Vallejo City Council unanimously adopted a resolution amending the operator agreement for the Vallejo Navigation Center to add a temporary warming center operated by 5 Keys.
Flor Magallanes, administrative analyst, said the proposed amendment would allow 5 Keys to open the warming center for up to 75 consecutive nights with 20 mat sleeping spaces plus any unoccupied navigation center beds, storage for personal belongings, meals and pet accommodations. "A warming center at the navigation center could be activated as quickly as January 15," Magallanes told council, and staff estimated a 70‑day operating budget of $40,102 funded from a prior participatory budgeting allocation for basic needs.
Public commenters supported the amendment but asked for clearer activation criteria and better outreach. Marissa Serafino, a Human Relations Commission member and resident, said it is “inhumane for a city to not have a place for unhoused people to get warm in the winter” and urged quicker activation. Other speakers asked for explicit temperature or weather triggers, transportation plans and clarity about family access to warming services. Melvin Cohen, an advocate, asked how the city will communicate activation and whether transportation to the site would be provided.
Council members praised staff for moving the item forward after an RFP drew no suitable responses and directed staff to continue fine‑tuning activation thresholds, transportation arrangements and coordination with SolTrans. Council member 3 moved the resolution; the motion carried unanimously.
